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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 03-23-2015, 12:05 AM
policerevolvercollector policerevolvercollector is offline
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Default Model 14 or 15?

Was the 15 ever made w/ a 6" bbl?

I know that the 14 was originally made w/ a 4" bbl. before they created the new desgnation. A seller on GB has 3 or 4 w/ 6" bbls. that he has listed as 15s.

Last edited by policerevolvercollector; 03-23-2015 at 12:15 AM.
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Old 03-23-2015, 12:25 AM
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JP@AK JP@AK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by policerevolvercollector View Post
Was the 15 ever made w/ a 6" bbl?
Not until 1986, and it would be a Model 15-5 or higher.

Quote:
I know that the 14 was originally made w/ a 4" bbl. before they created the new desgnation.
Not so. The standard barrel length on the Model 14 was 6". A few special orders were filled with 4" and 5" barrels, but they were anything but common.

The basic breakdown goes like this:
K-38 Masterpiece, 1947-1958 had 6" barrels as standard. The K-38 became the Model 14 in 1958 (shipping date) and still had a 6" barrel as standard.

.38 Combat Masterpiece, 1949-1958 had 4" barrels as standard. The Combat Masterpiece became the Model 15 in 1958 (shipping date) and still had the 4" as standard. The 2" variant was added a few years later.

I hope this helps.
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Old 03-23-2015, 12:37 AM
k22fan k22fan is offline
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Quick answer: yes.

After the traditional tapered or standard 4" barrel 15s were dropped S&W simultaneously made blued .38s with the 14's traditional barrel profile and full lug barrels. S&W renamed the traditional Model 14 Model 15 and the full lug .38s became the new Model 14s. So the 6" .38s that had been sold as model 14s for decades became 6" model 15s.

Last edited by k22fan; 03-23-2015 at 12:40 AM. Reason: delete what duplicated JP@AK's post
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Old 03-23-2015, 12:46 AM
policerevolvercollector policerevolvercollector is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK View Post
Not until 1986, and it would be a Model 15-5 or higher.


Not so. The standard barrel length on the Model 14 was 6". A few special orders were filled with 4" and 5" barrels, but they were anything but common.

The basic breakdown goes like this:
K-38 Masterpiece, 1947-1958 had 6" barrels as standard. The K-38 became the Model 14 in 1958 (shipping date) and still had a 6" barrel as standard.

.38 Combat Masterpiece, 1949-1958 had 4" barrels as standard. The Combat Masterpiece became the Model 15 in 1958 (shipping date) and still had the 4" as standard. The 2" variant was added a few years later.

I hope this helps.
I actually had a 4" Model 14. It was issued by the Kansas City Police in 1958. It was pre-Model 15.

The 15s on GB are 15-6s. So, I guess it is correct after all! Thanks for the quick replies!!!
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Old 03-23-2015, 01:04 AM
k22fan k22fan is offline
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If I understand correctly you were issued a special order 4" .38 that, although it had some barrel taper, its barrel was thicker than a Combat Masterpiece and it had a 14's wide rib. Is that correct? They are collectors' items but some 5 inch .38s had that barrel profile.
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Old 03-23-2015, 01:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by policerevolvercollector View Post
I actually had a 4" Model 14. It was issued by the Kansas City Police in 1958. It was pre-Model 15.
This makes no sense at all. If it was a "Model 14" how in the world could it also be a "pre-Model 15?" The Model 14 and the Model 15 both came out at the same time.
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